Playboy, at least through the 1980s....had three distinctive differences than the rest.
It always had one four-star interview with someone every month...that was worth reading. It also had advice columns on stereo and technology gimmicks (weak but no one else was doing it). And they had some general pieces on fashion trends for guys (it didn’t always occur monthly).
If I were going to buy it....I’d aim strictly at men in their 30’s who had some money, some wildness left in them, and were the type to wear $300 Italian shoes. I’d hire two or three essay writers to go off to unusual places and write Hunter S. Thompson-like pieces. I’d hire some young ladies to write columns on how to remake a guy’s image. And I’d hire a team to write a three-page car advice column monthly. Finally, I’d probably make the first year or two in paper, and do a switch by the third year to strictly digital.
Back in the 60s they also had a couple other things. First they had some great cartoonists (Gahan Wilson was my favorite). And they had some great exclusive fiction from top writers of the day, both short stories and serialized novels. I think Ian Fleming’s Man With the Golden Gun was first published there.
It's called Maxim.
Non-nude pics of hot women, and some great writing/ articles.
I used to subscribe when I was in my 30s, but I kind of outgrew it.
Sad to say but Playboy's era has come and gone.
And YES, I enjoyed reading it, too.
The nudes weren't that exciting anymore.
They all looked alike to me.
Bleach blonde, plastic faces, and fake breasts.
That's Hef's "ideal", but it is boring to me.